Eckhard Beutler

Eckhard Beutler (18 October 1901-14 April 1973) was an Oberst in Nazi Germany's Wehrmacht during World War II.

Biography
Eckhard Beutler was born on 18 October 1901 in Sorau, Lusatia, German Empire (present-day Zary, Lubusz Voivodeship, Poland). Beutler joined the Freikorps in the years following World War I, and he served in the quelling of the Silesian Uprisings as well as the fighting against Marxists in Germany. Beutler was promoted to Major in 1926 and to Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-Colonel) in 1937, and Beutler was given command of a motorized brigade during the invasion of Poland at the start of World War II. Beutler served in Poland and France before being transferred to North Africa in 1941, serving under Erwin Rommel in the Afrika Korps. In November-December 1942, he made poor decisions at the Ajdabiya Line campaign, resulting in his transferring to the occupation of France. Beutler was promoted to Oberst on 27 May 1944, and he fought in the Battle of Normandy after the Allied invasion. Beutler commanded some German infantry in the Battle of Caen against United States troops near the outskirts, and his regiment surrendered to the USA on 23 April 1945 in Schmallenburg, Westphalia. He died in 1973.